Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-02-11

"On the whole, / think I'd like it
better without any such filigree work
simple things are the best. returned
my somewhat discouraged pupil, rs
for the fifth time he picked out some
unrulv stitches that ] plainly told him
would spoil the looks Of the whole
pillow. ~ l.. ..
Well, in due course Of time it was
finished, that is, the plain serge cover
was firmly stitched together, and then
how longed to embroider upon it
some lovely sentiment about the muir
muring pines and the balmy fir trees!
But of course that was out of the
question. Jack had evidently no idea
Of doing anything luther himself in
the way Of needle work, yet was as
anxious as ever to have the whole
pillow made by his own hands. On
the whole, he was very patient and
persevering pupil for an active young
fellow devoted to tennis and base ball,
and used to wonder what tender
loving thoughts he was working into
those great, clumsy seams when I saw
that peculiar iar-off look come into
his beautiful brown eyes.
There is only one thing that troub.
led ME. In spite OF the persistency
with which Jack had worked day aft
| er day upon the pillow, and in spite
Of the numerous letters that came to
him addressed in delicate feminine
J hand, couldn't help noticing, as did
all the other boarders, in our little
hotel, that the young man was pay
ing marked attentions to q pretty
young girl, who had joined our party.
She had fascinated us all, this win
some Mnriel Fales, with her sweet face
| and her charming manners, and
couldn't wonder that Jack had not
been able to resist the spell;
but then, did I not know his secret,
and We're not all my sympathies with
the frail little creature for whom the
fir pillow was designed? How could q
young man be so tickle? Was the old
proverb "Out of sight out of mind"
to prove true again in his case? I con-
Tess was beginning to be disappoint-
ed in Jack.
'Tll let you know if the fir pillow
really does her any good" he said to
me in light, fippant way that quite
vexed me as he babe us good-by q few
days later. A telegram had come to
him from the distant city, and
although I knew we would miss the
bright young fellow, wasg glad OF any
thing that would take him away from
beautiful Muriel Fales., Not that !
had aught against her; on the con.
trary, / was charmed with her myself,
for she was no coquette, but noble
hearted young girl. Still, l couldn't
help seeing that matters were begin
ming to take a serious turn with her
as we'll as with. Jack, and l thought
it was high time that such scandalous
proceedings should come to an end.
Indeed, l had half mind to tell
Muriel myself all about the mystic
rious pillow, only that l had promised
Jack eternal secrecy in regard to it.
Now, though l am an old maid and
supposed to have all an old maid 8 pro-
clivities for meddling with other peo-
pies concerns, it is not often that I
become so greatly interested in people
that l meet in this random way at a.
kquiet summer resort.
But Nuriel and Jack and the little
consumptive maiden had somehow
crept, each one of them, into my fool
ish old heart, and felt strangely re-
sponsible for the future happiness of
them all. Moreover, MuriePs mother
had placed her under my charge for
the remainder of the summer-we were
to talk French together preparatory to
her European trip in the falkland
when the frank young girl, knowing
my interest in Jack, began to show
| me the letters that came to her on his
return to the city, the burden weighed
upon me all the more heavily. Each
letter, as could see, grew more and
more lover-like, till at last Muriel
ceased to show them to me, but would
read ME short sentences here and there
with a charming, blushing hesitancy
that I could not fail to interpret.
One day, however, there came to me,
! as we'll as to Muriel g. letter from Jack,
and as it will explain to you the
whole situation, especially the romance
| OF the pillow, far better than my gar
rulous talk could do, / am going to
give it to you in full:
"My Dear Miss Hardacre: ! promis-
| ed to let you know if the fir pillow
you so kindly helped me make for
my poor Angora pussy did her any
good. My mothers letters about her
quite worried me while was with you
! at the mountains, for she is of a rare
| breed, and is a great pet with us all.
The doctors told us that her sickness
was a case OF consumption, but since
sleeping ON the fir pillow her cough has
grown less frequent and her appetite
is decidedly better. l think she fully
appreciates the delicate straw berry,
fragrance we took that long, pleasure
walk around the mountain to secure.
II she RECEIVERS, as now feel almost
sure she will, hope to have the
pleasure Of presenting her to you
the kind benefactor to whose infinite
patience and forbearance she owes the
pretty fir pillow upon which she is
soundly sleeping at the present writ
ing. =. !, ~. ~. p.
One word more before close. Con.
graduate me, dear Miss Hard acre, up-
on having won for my own, the dear
| est, sweetest little woman in all the
wide world. Muriel will tell you all
| about it. H..
! Ecstatically yours,
.' q. JACK TURNER.
Taking Things for Granted.
Oliver Wendell Holmes in the February
f. & Atlantic. T&